My Mk1 seat Leon 1.4 16v 04 plate

[Theo1988]

Hello everyone....I'm wondering if anyone can fill me in on the common faults that my car will have over the years, I read a lot about everyone else's mileage that there cars have achieved well over the 100,000 mark. My car is currently on 55439 can anyone advise me on what to look out for?




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[Liam-Leon]

Not too familiar with the 1.4 engine myself, but on my 1.6 the only slight problem I've encountered so far was difficulty starting the car when warm & the temperature gauge was not displaying the temperautre proberly, which turned out to be a failed control temperature sensor (and it's been reported that all MK1 Leon's can suffer from this too).

Since having the waterpump & cambelt changed a couple of weeks ago, the temperature gauge problem has returned and so it looks like that the thermostat needs changing now as well (both the control temperature sensor & the thermostat are either causes relating to the gauge problem).

I was going to mention the dodgy door seal problem that is the most common problem with these cars, but I've noticed your Leon is on an 04 plate - if I am not mistaken and maybe someone could verify this, but Seat had actually corrected this fault on all cars from 2003 onwards hadn't they??

Liam

 

[MasserS]

Coilpacks, leaky door seals, lacquer peel on plastics, exhausts rusting up, Other than that pretty good cars

 

[Theo1988]

I'm glad to hear that no one has mentioned head gaskets I take it these engines are bullet proof, my temperature gauge Is ok and I will be changing my cam belt and water pump soon...unfortunately my door sills do leak but only in the passenger side...I have had to replace a coil but if that's the only known faults then my car should last well over 100,000 miles...cheers for the info

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[Muttley]

Liam-Leon, I've seen nothing about a change in door seals from 2003. The problem is common across the whole Mk.4 Golf-platformed range so a fix would be expected to be from VAG and applied overall. 2003 is when the Mk.5 Golf replaced the Mk.4, which of course fixed the problem, but not in Seats until the Mk.2 Leon in 2005.

Theo1988, the build quality of these cars is generally good. My only hesitation is that smaller engines in bigger cars tend to get a lot of heavy use: depending on the previous owners, of course. At 55K you have a low-mileage example, so perhaps it has mainly been used for light duties.

The cambelt is due to be replaced at 60K or after 4 years, so if it hasn't been done yet it needs to be done soon.